Apple's market cap hits nearly $775B, CNBC reportsApple's (AAPL) market cap has reached nearly $775B after the stock closed at a record on Monday, up over 2.7% to $133, CNBC reports. Exxon Mobil (XOM) has a market cap of about $377B. Reference Link

Exxon Mobil says 2014 reserves replacement totals 104%Exxon Mobil Corporation announced that it replaced 104% of its 2014 production by adding proved oil and gas reserves totaling 1.5 billion oil-equivalent barrels, including a 162% replacement ratio for crude oil and other liquids. At year-end 2014, ExxonMobil's proved reserves totaled 25.3 billion oil-equivalent barrels, which was made up of 54% liquids, up from 53% in 2013, and 46% natural gas. Liquid additions during 2014 totaled more than 1.2 billion barrels, or 162% of production, and natural gas additions totaled approximately 300 million oil-equivalent barrels for a 42% replacement ratio. Excluding the impact of asset sales, reserves additions during 2014 replaced 111% of production. During 2014, ExxonMobil added 3.2 billion oil-equivalent barrels to its resource base, driven primarily by resource additions in Argentina, Canada, Nigeria, Tanzania and the U.S.

USW to expand ULP oil strikeThe United Steelworkers, USW, announced that it will expand its unfair labor practice strike, ULP, by launching a work stoppage tonight at midnight at the Motiva Enterprises refinery in Port Arthur, Texas. This refinery, a 50-50 joint venture between Shell Oil Company and Saudi Refining, produces more than 600,000 barrels per day. In addition, 24 hour strike notices were delivered at Motiva’s two Louisiana refineries in Convent and Norco as well as at the Shell Chemical plant in Norco. Capacity at these facilities is 235,000 and 238,000. These refineries are also jointly operated by Royal Dutch Shell and Saudi Refining, Inc. of Saudi Arabia. “The industry’s refusal to meaningfully address safety issues through good faith bargaining gave us no other option but to expand our work stoppage,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard. Publicly traded companies in the space include BP (BP), Chevron (CVX), ConocoPhillips (COP), Exxon Mobil (XOM), Royal Dutch Shell (RDS.A) and Total (TOT). Reference Link

Citigroup sees truck carrier stocks poised to outperformWith the U.S. economy growing quickly, the stocks of truck carriers are likely to outperform the S&P 500, Citigroup believes. WHAT'S NEW: Truck transportation prices and truck carrier stocks "respond most directly to economic growth," Citigroup analyst Christian Wetherbee wrote in a note to investors today. After carriers' truckload rates rose 4% last year, the rates should rise by a similar amount this year, Wetherbee predicted. Economic growth, along with the difficulties the carriers are experiencing with recruiting drivers, should be supportive of additional rate increases, the analyst stated. Wetherbee warned that the stocks of truck builders usually underperform during periods such as the current one, when a large amounts of U.S. class 8 trucks are being built. Consequently, truck carrier stocks present investors with an opportunity, while investors should be cautious on truck builders and parts suppliers, he wrote. Among truck carriers, Swift (SWFT) is particularly attractive, since it has underperformed its peers over the last year, Wetherbee stated. Additionally, the company's results appear likely to at least meet consensus estimates, the analyst predicted. He also kept a Buy rating on another truck carrier, Knight Transportation (KNX) and maintained a Buy rating on Cummins (CMI), which builds truck engines. The analyst kept a Hold rating on truck builder PACCAR (PCAR). OTHERS TO WATCH: Navistar (NAV) builds trucks and Celadon (CGI) is another truck carrier. PRICE ACTION: In early afternoon trading, Swift rose 1%, Knight Transportation gained 1.3%, Cummins added 0.7%, and PACCAR lost 0.5%.

Trucking stocks likely to outperform S&P 500, says CitigroupCitigroup says its work indicates trucking stocks respond most directly to economic growth. With the economy on a growth trajectory, Citi expects trucking stocks are likely to outperform the S&P 500. The firm reiterates Buy ratings on Swift Transportation (SWFT) and Knight Transportation (KNX), with a preference for Swift. It also has a Buy rating on Cummins (CMI) and Neutral on PACCAR (PCAR).

Caterpillar retail trends remain negative, says Wells FargoAfter Caterpillar reported earlier that its retail sales of machine declined 14% in the three month period ending in January, Wells Fargo noted that the trend worsened from December's 12% drop and that all regions reported declines. The firm believes retail trends remain negative for Caterpillar shares, on which it keeps a Market Perform rating.

Caterpillar reports retail machines sales down 14% in three months end JanuaryCaterpillar reported in a filing that its total retail machines sales were down 14% on a three month rolling basis in January. For reference, retail sales of machines were down 12% in the period ending in December and were down 10% in the period ending in November. The company reported world Resources Industries sales down 27% in the January period, which was down fom the 22% drop in the December end period. Construction Industries world sales were down 10%, worse than the 9% drop in the December period. Total Energy & Transportation Retail Sales were up 22% in the January end period, which was the same growth rate as seen in the December period.

Cliffs Natural finalizes energy agreement with We Energies in U.P. of Michigan Cliffs Natural (CLF) has finalized an interim power agreement with Wisconsin Energy's (WEC) utility energy segment We Energies for its Michigan operations. The company stated that this is "one key step in a series of contemplated short and long-term agreements that are essential to the viability of its iron ore mines in the Upper Peninsula".